Amusement apparatus



was? 2&1923. fi,4?8,979

M. STOEHRER ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS FiledMarch 51. 1922 fiiveiarer,Harald Sivehre'z;

MAX STOEHRER AND HAROLDSTOEHRER, OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TOSTQEHEER &; PRATT IDODGEN CORPORATION, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION (3F MASSACHUSETTS.

AlVIUSEIl/IEN '1 APPARATUS.

Application filed March 31, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MAX Sronunnn and HAROLD Sronnnnn, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Mcthuen, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAmusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This inventions relates to that class of amusement apparatus disclosedin our pending application Serial No. 369,381 and in our issued PatentNo. 1,373,108, granted March 29, 1921, and has particular reference toone species of the invention involving the use of a wire mesh orequivalent interstitial electrically charged ceiling structure.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is. the construction ofa practical form of amusement apparatus permitting a car to freelytravel upon the running floor promiscuously in any direction and toassociate with the car a simple manncrof supplying current to thedriving. motor in perfect safety and without danger at all to either theoccupants of the car or to the structure. I v

The particular species of the invention of the present application isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a detail vertical sectional view of the apparatus showingthe wire mesh overhead conductor and the platform conductor togetherwith one of the cars located thereon.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the car shown in Figure 1 clearlyillustrating the supporting rollers and motor driven traction unit.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

The apparatus'embodying the present invention may be of either apermanent or portablecharacter thereby conveniently permitting or itsuse at carnivals, fairs and other places of amusement, and includes aplurality of individual cars C adapted to be propelled by a motor drivendevice l) arranged in an electrical circuit which in cludes a wire meshor equivalentinterstitial electrically charged ceiling structure, andalso a metallic conducting platform, floor,

Serial lilo. 5%,397.

or like running field 1, both of which are connected with a. source ofelectrical energy.

As set forth in our Patent No. 1,373,108 the cars (l are adapted to beindependently and individually manipulated over the floor Or runningfield in such a manner that, due

to novel structural features including the a plurality of metallicsheets electrically connected or bonded so as to make in effect acontinuous metallic electrode 3 which covers the entire playing field orplatform.

This metallic electrode 3 is connected with one of the Wires 4 of anelectric circuit while the other is connected with an overhead Wire meshconductor 6 supported on the 'framework 7 located around the edgesof theplatform 1 and serving to support the conductor 6 in such a manner thatit is entirely coextensive with the metallic electrode 3.

In connection with the overhead conductor 6 it will be observed that thesame is of interstitial form, the same being a Wire nieshof any desiredform. That is to say, any suitable, convenient and readily obtainableform of open work or wire mesh ceiling may be used to constitute theoverhead or ceiling structure for the present apparatus. The wire meshmay be of any gauge or weight but is preferably of a type that is sold"in strips of convenient width and length thereby premitting oi readilyand quickly erecting the overhead conductor. Nhen these strips or partsof the mesh are electrically connected they constitute an interstitialceiling which provides a very satisfactory overhead .conductor becauseit is not onlylight and easily erected, but at the same time by reasonof its open formation it is especially advantageous for outside as wellas inside installation since it permits of the free circulating of airand shuts out no light from the running or playing field, besidepermitting the trolley wheel to have a promiscuous and unguided travelwithout interruption of the electrical circuit.

' The line Wires 4 and 5 which supply electrical current respectively tothe floor 3 and wire mesh overhead 6 arepreferably connected With aswitch'S connected with a source of electrical supply for opening andclosing the circuit to the charged floor 3 and wire mesh 6. The motordevice D of the car C is controlled by a, foot switch C and is grounded'to the floor 3 through the driving caster G", and furthermore iselectrically connected with the wire mesh 6 through the trolley device Cwhich has a promiscuous traveling engagement with the open Work ceilingor wire mesh.

From :the foregoing it will be apparent that the device includes themetal floor 3 which may be formed of a series of electrically 'connectedconductor plates or their equivalent and the wire mesh ceiling 6, be hof which are electrically connected by the line wires 4 and 5 with anyconveniently available source of electrical energy. Thus,

a ceiling and floor is provided, the former constituting a chargedmemberand the lattera conducting element, and it will beobvious that anyelement extending between these two members will. bridge the gap andclose the circuit.

' "-Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilledinthe art and it will of course be understood that changes in'the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appendedclaims.

tion with a ceilin and floor both possessing electrical conduct vity, avehicle adapted to be supported by said floor, and being in electricalcontact therewith, means connecting said vehicle with said ceiling, saidceiling comprising a wlre mesh.

' 3. An amusement device consisting of the combination of av metalfloor, an electrically charged ceiling consisting of wire mesh, amotor-driven car free to travel upon and in electrical contact with themetal floor,

' and a trolley promiscuously movable on the wire mesh and in electricalconnection therewith and with the car.

, 4. A trolley system includingin combination with .a ceiling and floorboth possessing electrical conductivity, and current conducting'leadsconnected to said ceiling and floor 1'espectiveldy,' vehicle adaptedtobe supported 2111' being in electrical contact with said floor, a motorfor driving said vehicle, said ceiling presenting a plurality-ofinterstices, a pole secured to said vehicle, a collector'supported bysaid pole, saidcollector being of sufiicient interstices.

In testimony whereof we hereuntoaiiix our signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses.

. MAX STOEHRER.

width toi bridge said HAROLD STOEHRER; j i

Witnesses:

'JosuPH M, HARGEDON, FREDERICK L. MARKEY.

